25
votes
Accepted
Are pressure-treated posts that have been submerged for a few days ruined?
Pressure treated wood can handle submersion. Many folks just pack rock around the post, so they are always in water after rain. You should be fine to go ahead and pour your concrete with no worries.
- 102k
22
votes
Pressure Treated wood joists rotten or just aged
I took a screwdriver and poked the joist and it did not sink in at all. very hard.
That's your key right there. There's nothing wrong with the wood, it just doesn't look very pretty.
If it were ...
- 43.1k
19
votes
Pressure Treated wood joists rotten or just aged
The other answers addressed the appearance of the wood with great accuracy so I'm not going to beat that dead horse.
Are you getting a good deal on the deck? These boards could have been purchased ...
- 16.5k
17
votes
Are pressure-treated posts that have been submerged for a few days ruined?
Pressure-treated lumber is pressure-treated by... wait for it... submersion. It was literally dunked in a vat of liquid. The vat was sealed and pressurized, forcing the liquid to enter the wood. It ...
- 129k
8
votes
Pressure Treated wood joists rotten or just aged
To answer your specific question, “are these okay?”, yes.
They may have been sitting outside for a while, but there aren’t going to be any structural issues. Once built, you won’t really be able to ...
- 20.4k
8
votes
Accepted
Is this pressure treated wood safe?
You have a #2 spruce/pine/fir board that was kiln dried/heat treated; the grading was done by the Ontario Lumber Manufacturers Agency following the National Lumber Grading Authority for determining ...
- 7,600
7
votes
Accepted
What nails to use for PT wood?
In general, the codes require fasteners to be of hot-dipped, zinc-coated galvanized steel in accordance with ASTM A153, type 304 or 316 stainless steel, silicon bronze or copper. [source]
FWIW, ...
- 689
7
votes
I'm using 2x12 for steps. At 4 feet, do I need a center support?
2009 IRC and just about everything else in the US specifies 18” on center spacing for stringers with 2xwhatever treads.
So yes, you need at least a center stringer; maybe 2 if your treads overhang the ...
- 20.4k
6
votes
Should I let pressure treated lumber dry before building with it?
The answer is simply No.
PT wood will warp if you let it sit. It would have to be in an ultra controlled environment to dry and not warp horribly.
- 47.8k
6
votes
Should bottom wall plates in a basement be treated lumber?
In my state the bottom plate is required to have the foam seal and treated lumber for external load bearing walls only. I do use foam internally but not treated lumber. The foam prevents moisture from ...
- 102k
5
votes
Accepted
I spend long time in picking lumber. What do you look for when selecting boards?
I literally buy pressure-treated wood sight-unseen.
I live near a chain of lumber yards that offers convenient delivery at a reasonable price. They offer pressure-treated fence posts with a ...
- 761
5
votes
Should bottom wall plates in a basement be treated lumber?
I've been involved directly and indirectly with home construction since the 1980s. Here in Minnesota, bottom plates, window bucks, sill plates, and anything else in direct contact with concrete (or ...
- 129k
5
votes
Is there a test to determine if a nail is galvanized or not?
Those are galvanized. The texture says it all. Those different dark and light spots of silver all over the nail are crystals created as the zinc quickly cools in the air. Take a look at the image ...
- 706
5
votes
Accepted
Are metal anchors or buried posts better for 6 x 6 posts for a pavilion?
The pier and footing is the best approach.
A structure, even a deck or pavilion should not have to rely upon the posts being anchored in concrete for structural support. The pavilion itself should be ...
- 8,752
5
votes
Accepted
Latex paint or oil paint for pressure treated wood outdoors
My background is retail paint store management 21 years.
A few days before and after obtaining the materials, you'll need to pressure wash the wood, wait a day for it to dry, then apply the primer.
...
- 581
4
votes
Winterizing new wet-treated pressure treated pine deck
Leave it exposed to the elements. You're not doing it any favors by sealing it with plastic. In fact, you'll run the risk of staining it by trapping moisture and/or fostering mildew and other ...
- 129k
4
votes
Accepted
Can I combine 2x4 lumber to build posts for barn?
That's a common strategy even for commercial buildings, but for that length you should be using 2x6. So the answer is "yes".
However, the specifics are important. Adequate lap, joint scatter,...
- 129k
4
votes
Will wood glue hold on pressure treated lumber for exterior barn doors?
The fact that the lumber is pressure treated isn't really a problem for you. The problem is likely related to the moisture content of the boards.
I don't know how old the lumber is, etc. but one of ...
- 5,532
3
votes
Accepted
How to mate two pressure-treated 2x6s together?
I usually nail them together. Construction adhesive won't be enough. You could use screws also.
For spacing I usually start by making sure the crown is going the same direction and at one end put 2 ...
- 102k
3
votes
Should I use Pressure Treated Wood in a basement?
Most building codes require PT wood that will be in contact with basement concrete floors. So the bottom plate of a 2x4 wall and code requires the use of fasteners (galvanized) approved for use with ...
3
votes
What nails to use for PT wood?
Stainless is the most reliable way to go, though hot-dipped galvanized is also an option. It wasn't an issue until CCA was phased out a few years back.
- 129k
3
votes
I spend long time in picking lumber. What do you look for when selecting boards?
@jasper has a good answer, but to address the actual "standing in the store" side of things...
First, know what you need in a board. Do you need the entire length, or are you going to be nipping ...
- 20.4k
3
votes
Is it normal for pressure-treated lumber to warp?
Treated wood doesn't always twist/warp/shrink, but in my experience more often than not it will to some degree. For something small like window planter boxes etc. I would use non-treated lumber and ...
- 492
3
votes
Can pressure treated wood be buried in concrete?
"Pressure treated wood" isn't one thing. It's many things. Some is rated for ground contact or below grade use. Most isn't. You'd need lumber that is.
You won't keep it from getting wet ...
- 129k
3
votes
Why is my new pine fence turning black? Can I stain right over it without creating a bigger future headache?
That is natural aging , the most rot resistant wood redwood turns gray within 5 years , cedar within 3 and that’s in Oregon.
If you stain it a color or paint it it will hide the aging but this is ...
- 102k
3
votes
Will wood glue hold on pressure treated lumber for exterior barn doors?
This answer is highly related and will provide many good tips on building your door correctly the first time. In particular, pay particular attention to the bits on gluing/screwing the bracing to the ...
- 43.1k
3
votes
Pressure Treated wood joists rotten or just aged
That's just how aged Douglas fir looks like: it gets really dark after a while. But that's a good thing, the oxidized layer protects the inner structure.
I built a DIY table with Douglas fir 2 years ...
- 477
3
votes
Best stain for a deck made of pressure treated wood
I know product recommendations are off topic here, but I'm going to do it anyway in a bit. But first, don't use a solid surface finish like Urethane or Varathane. They will fail (start flaking off) ...
- 23.1k
2
votes
Accepted
Is it safe to use pressure-treated wood for a workbench in my shed?
Offgassing has never really been a concern with treated lumber. Direct skin contact and ingestion were concerns with CCA treatment, and to a lesser degree with the products that have replaced it.
As ...
- 129k
2
votes
Should I let pressure treated lumber dry before building with it?
All PT lumber comes wet. They put it under pressure and force chemicals into it. Then they palletize it tightly so it won't warp in transit and ship it. I usually lay the boards out on a flat ...
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